Automotive front end fascia with integrated structural member

Abstract

An automotive vehicle is disclosed with a vehicle body, an ornamental fascia mounted to a front end of the vehicle body and a structural member mounted to the vehicle body front end. The structural member extends through the ornamental fascia to an exterior side of the vehicle body for a compact arrangement of structural, functional and design characteristics of the vehicle front end.

1. An automotive vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body; 
 an ornamental fascia mounted on a front end of the vehicle body; and 
 a structural member mounted to the vehicle body front end, an exposed portion of the structural member extending through the ornamental fascia to an exterior side of the vehicle body; 
 wherein the exposed portion of the structural member extends laterally across the front end of the vehicle body. 
 
   
   
     2. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the ornamental fascia further comprises a grille. 
   
   
     3. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member is provided for absorbing front end impacts. 
   
   
     4. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member is formed from an aluminum alloy. 
   
   
     5. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member exposed portion further comprises at least two generally horizontal bars aligned vertically with spacing between adjacent bars. 
   
   
     6. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member is at least partially arcuate along the length of the structural member. 
   
   
     7. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the ornamental fascia flirt her comprises an air intake. 
   
   
     8. The automotive vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the structural member exposed portion extends through the air intake. 
   
   
     9. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member further comprises a plurality of structural members each having an exposed portion extending through the ornamental fascia to an exterior side of the vehicle body. 
   
   
     10. The automotive vehicle of  claim 9  wherein the ornamental fascia further comprises an air intake, the exposed portions of the structural members extend through the air intake and the structural members are spaced relative to each other to permit air to pass between the structural members. 
   
   
     11. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member further comprises a plurality of structural members each having a first distal end, a second laterally spaced distal end, and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion extending through the ornamental fascia to the exterior side of the vehicle body. 
   
   
     12. The automotive vehicle of  claim 11  wherein the structural member first distal ends are fastened together beneath the ornamental fascia and the structural member second distal ends are fastened together beneath the ornamental fascia. 
   
   
     13. The automotive vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the intermediate portion of the structural members are stacked vertically and spaced apart by spacers disposed between the distal ends. 
   
   
     14. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member includes a pair of laterally apart distal ends. 
   
   
     15. The automotive vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the structural member is mounted to a frame of the vehicle body. 
   
   
     16. The automotive vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the structural member is mounted to the vehicle body. 
   
   
     17. The automotive vehicle of  claim 16  wherein the structural member is mounted to the vehicle body along the length of the structural member at a location disposed between the structural member distal ends. 
   
   
     18. The automotive vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the ornamental fascia further comprises a grille mounted to the vehicle body front end with an air intake for receiving air for the automotive vehicle; and
 wherein the structural member further comprises a structural bumper mounted to the vehicle front end extending through the grille air intake. 
 
   
   
     19. An automotive vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body; 
 an ornamental fascia mounted on a front end of the vehicle body; and 
 a structural member mounted to the vehicle body front end, an exposed portion of the structural member extending through the ornamental fascia to an exterior side of the vehicle body; 
 wherein the structural member exposed portion further comprises at least two generally horizontal bars aligned vertically with spacing between adjacent bars.